< previous page page_408 next page >

Page 408
little sleep. The amenities past, he said, ''On this matter of a plot" but got no further.
"There was no plot," Ian interrupted tonelessly.
"No," Salisbury agreed, "it seems not."
He was about to explain further, but Alinor looked such daggers at him across the bed that he held his tongue. If it was ever necessary, he could always give Ian the details at some other time. There was only one thing he had to know.
"I spoke to Robert de Remy, who was one of the men involved. He said you knew him from a youth and were about to take him into your service and would vouch for him. Is this true?"
"Yes."
"Then that ends the matter," Salisbury said briskly, but he was uneasy. The lifeless quality of the answer disturbed him. "Ian, are you ill?"
That drew a faint smile and lit a spark in the dark eyes. "No, only sore and very tired still. I have not had so sound a drubbing since Simon took me from my father. I hope the king was not offended at our absence from court."
"No," Salisbury replied, then grinned and shook his head. "You know John. He was pleased. He felt avenged for that you made him angry. He wished to beat you, as one lessons a child, and that was accomplished. You will have no more trouble with him, I think. He was really outraged at the rumors that flew about. He set me to ferret out the truthGood God, Ian, what ails you?"
"Nothing, an incautious move. You would not believe how I ache. It seems to grow worse instead of better. William, I am not sure I will be able to come to the meeting with Oxford and Pembroke tomorrow. Except for reserving myself from setting out in my own person, I think you can take for granted my agreement to almost any plan Pembroke puts forward. I believe he knows the extent of Alinor's lands there and therefore what it

 
< previous page page_408 next page >